Integrating Sphere Spectrometer for Whole Blood Hemoglobin Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spectroscopic systems face challenges in accurately measuring hemoglobin parameters in whole blood due to strong optical scattering, which leads to light loss and nonlinear absorbance, making it difficult to collect sufficient light and expand the upper absorbance measurement range, and requiring new algorithms to overcome scattering effects.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a prism-based spectrometer with optical diffusers to ensure uniform spatial light distribution, increases LED white light brightness, and employs advanced algorithms like kernel-based orthogonal projection to latent structures (K-OPLS) for processing, allowing for faster spectral acquisition and improved accuracy of fetal hemoglobin parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional spectroscopic systems are used to measure whole blood, then the measurement process is simple, but strong optical scattering causes light loss and nonlinear absorbance, reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an integrating sphere as an intermediary component between the light source and the detector. The sphere collects scattered light from the whole blood sample and redirects it toward the detector, ensuring that light loss due to scattering is minimized. This intermediary structure transforms the harmful scattering effect into a useful signal collection mechanism, improving measurement accuracy without requiring complex sample preparation.
2Ease of operation
If lysed blood is used instead of whole blood, then light scattering is reduced and measurement is easier, but the clinical relevance and diagnostic value are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for the lysing step by using an integrating sphere-based spectroscopic system that can directly handle whole blood. The system takes out the problematic element (scattering from intact cells) not by altering the sample, but by altering the measurement approach to accommodate the sample's natural state, thereby maintaining clinical relevance while achieving accurate measurements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the upper absorbance measurement range is expanded to handle highly concentrated samples, then measurement versatility increases, but light loss due to scattering becomes more severe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the optical path length within the integrating sphere system. For highly concentrated samples with high absorbance, the system can dynamically modify the effective measurement path to optimize light collection efficiency. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to handle a wide range of concentrations while minimizing light loss, as the optical configuration can be optimized for each specific sample condition.
4Productivity
If measurement time is reduced for faster diagnostics, then productivity increases, but spectral acquisition quality and accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing rapid wavelength calibration and baseline correction before the actual hemoglobin parameter measurement. The integrating sphere system pre-establishes the optical configuration and detects any drift in the light source or detector characteristics in advance. This preliminary setup ensures that the subsequent rapid measurements maintain high accuracy without requiring extended measurement times for each sample.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate measurement of whole-blood hemoglobin parameters with reduced measurement time and increased accuracy, overcoming the limitations of light scattering and non-linearity, and providing reliable results for clinical diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting module (22), a replaceable cuvette assembly (40), and a calibrating-light module (60)... The light-emitting module has an LED light source capable of emitting light
Implementation Method 2
a spectrometer module (100)... separates the light into a plurality of light beams, each light beam having a different wavelength
Implementation Method 3
An ultraviolet-visible light spectroscopic system involves absorption spectroscopy or reflectance spectroscopy... UV/Vis spectroscopy is routinely used in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of different analytes
Implementation Method 4
uses a prism-based spectrometer with optical diffusers to ensure uniform spatial light distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting module for use in a system for measuring whole-blood hemoglobin parameters or whole-blood bilirubin parameters. The light-emitting module includes an LED light source capable of emitting light wherein the light is directed thereby defining an optical path and a plurality of optical components. The plurality of optical components includes a collimating lens, a first optical diffuser, a circular polarizer, and a focusing lens wherein the plurality of optical components is disposed within the optical path of the light from the LED light source.